The Loom Shed

Home
United Kingdom
Cullompton
The Loom Shed

Textile Courses, Workshops, Events and Talks. Including everything from weaving, spinning, natural dyes, felting, knitting, and crochet.

A haven for learning and sharing about anything fibre related. Come and see us for a cuppa and a chat! www.theloomshed.com/info-and-tickets

03/09/2026

I liked yesterday’s ‘Hand or Machine’ prompt from SEAM Collective, so I’m sorry it’s a day late, but I’m still in summer holiday mode.

It’s a regular debate I hear in the workshop about when a hand loom becomes a machine. I worked with a Karen weaver once who called all my hand looms ‘machines’ as she wove on a back strap loom.

I think it’s the dobby loom that divides people because of the lag belt (first image). It’s somehow seen as doing the work for the weaver, but we still have to peg it to weave the right pattern. The hand skills are still very much needed.

So when does a hand loom become a machine? Louise

seam collective

28/08/2026

It's not long now until the first session of our Weave Study Group and I'm digging out all of the samples, creating the first handout and generally getting a bit anxious.

It's my first online course. Yep, teaching for 20 odd years and not taught online yet, so wish me luck! I'm quite excited about the concept though as we're going to be getting into the weave draft and working out the rules and how to bend them to make the weaving truly your own style.

We are almost fully booked, so don't mull over the decision for too long. It won't be repeated next year! Louise

27/08/2026

Colours of Summer

Cloudscapes from Glastonbury Tor last week. You could almost touch them.

24/08/2026

If you've never tried weaving before and wondering what all the fuss is about, this is the workshop for you.

The looms are already set up and you can play with colour, texture and pattern to your heart's content. There's also tea and biscuits! What's not to like?

Louise

(P.S that's a very old photo of me. Anyone else hate having photos taken?)

21/08/2026

Who better to Learn to Spin with than Amanda Hannaford? She combines a love for the craft with a skill for sharing her knowledge that makes her a great tutor.

This workshop takes you from preparing fibre, to spindle spinning and trying spinning using a wheel for the first time. Amanda will bring all equipment, but if you have a wheel or spindle that you'd like to use well, so bring that along as well. It's a really mediative craft and you don't have you have a lot of equipment to start as Amanda will show you. So join us for a really calm day, playing with fibre while we take care of you with a nourishing lunch and plenty of tea or coffee.

Find out more about this workshop and Amanda on our website.

19/08/2026

The Colours of Summer 3

Parched grass and grey skies on our last day in North Wales.

And a wildfire that was a little too close for comfort. Hope you’re all staying safe. Louise

17/08/2026

I'm really looking forward to this workshop. I've dabbled in tablet weaving, but it would be great to learn from an experienced tutor.

Sue Day will be joining us on the 3rd October for a day of making braids using tablets. She will bring all the equipment you need so that you can spend the day focussing on the technique. I suspect we'll all become slightly addicted.

Read more about Sue and her tablet weaving workshop on the website. I hope you can join me in my new obsession!

Blotz Natural Dyes

14/08/2026

Our online Natural Dye Study group returns this September and this year we are focussing on dyeing cellulose fibres. So if you've never tried dyeing cotton, linen or h**p, enjoy the combined wisdom of Jane Deane, Isabella Whitworth and Debbie Bamford.

We meet seasonally online to explore a different subject. First we'll look at the different mordants we can used for cellulose yarns and fabric, then we'll dye with cochineal/brazilwood, dyers chamomile, walnut and indigo. We're linking with DT Crafts to help you source everything that you need.

We'll support you with a different project each quarter, sharing your trials and triumph throughout the year.

Head to our website to find out more.

Jane Deane, Naturally The Mulberry Dyer

13/08/2026

Colours of summer

The light changes the view from our tent almost hourly.

I’m away from the office for a while enjoying the mountains and estuaries of North Wales. I’ll reply to messages on my return. Louise

10/08/2026

Our subject of this year's online weave study group is Overshot and it's aimed at relatively new weavers.

What is overshot? How to you make sense of the weave draft? How can I adapt the pattern? What does it look like if I use a multi colour warp? I hope to answer all these questions and encourage you to keep asking 'what if?'

Yes, I'm going to be the tutor for this one! My first online weave workshop! I do particularly enjoy teaching new weavers, encouraging people to try different things and making it their own by choosing yarns, colours and textures that work for them.

So if you can set up your own 4 shaft loom and weave twill and plain weave, this could be the next project for you. More details on the website and let me know if you have any questions.

Address

The Loom Shed
Cullompton
EX151NF

Website

http://www.theloomshed.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Loom Shed posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to The Loom Shed:

Want your establishment to be the top-listed Arts & Entertainment in Cullompton?